Bio means life and the suffix -ology means the study of, so biology is the scientific study of living things. Combining the two parts gives you the exact definition.

Biography combines bio (life) and graph (write), naming a written account of someone's life story. Each root contributes one piece of the meaning.

Geo means earth and -graphy means writing about or describing, so geography is the study and description of Earth's surface and its landforms. The root geo points to the planet itself.

Geology pairs geo (earth) with -ology (study of), describing a scientist who studies rocks, minerals, and the structure of the earth. The roots together name an entire branch of science.

Graph means to write, and auto- means self, so an autograph is your name written in your own handwriting. The two parts join to mean a self-written signature.

Paragraph combines para- (beside) and graph (write) to name a section of writing made of related sentences grouped together. The whole word still keeps the idea of written language.

Scrib means to write, and the prefix de- means down, so to describe is to write down what something looks like. The root tells you the action is a kind of writing.

Manuscript joins manu (hand) with script (write) to name a text the author writes by hand before it is printed. The roots show that the writing was done by hand rather than typed.

Geothermal uses geo (earth) plus thermal (heat), so geothermal science studies heat and energy from deep inside the earth. Both roots point to where the heat comes from.

Each pairing relies on a Greek or Latin root. Inscription uses scrib/script (write) and in- (into), naming writing carved or engraved onto a surface. Photograph joins photo (light) and graph (write) to describe an image written by light onto film or a sensor. Biome contains bio (life), naming a large community of living things in a climate zone. Geologist combines geo (earth) and -ologist (one who studies), so it is a scientist who studies rocks and the earth.